Cody used Reflect!

From my experience in Teacher Cadet, I have learned a lot that I will take with me into the future. I have learned some valuable leadership skills, as for being a teacher means taking charge of an entire classroom. Teacher Cadet has also taught me some time management skills as well. During my first semester, I would have to prepare a lesson or create a review game during my spare time at home. Since I had never done anything like this before, I would find myself staying up late at night just to get everything done. If I wanted to avoid this, I had to come up with a schedule. Now, I try and get all my work done as soon as I get home, so I will have the evenings to unwind and do as I want. Also, I have learned to think before I speak. I never had a problem with saying anything wrong in front of my kids, but because of working with such a young age, I know I had to choose my words carefully. I will not be going into a teaching profession, but the things I've learned from preparing for one are invaluable life skills.

The Ways of Discipline

First off, what philosophies? What techniques? This should have been taught in the classroom.

Now, I personally do not see any special ways of discipline teachers use in their classrooms. Most of them are fairly straight forward. From memory, I will try and describe a few methods my past teachers have used.

a) This teacher would ask the student to step out of the class to talk to them in private. From what I have seen, the student usually stops whatever disruptions they were causing and class goes on as normal. However, the student often talks to their peers about what their teacher said.

b) Think the opposite of a. This teacher acknowledges a students disruption to the whole class. Class is usually a little rowdy afterwards and the student is in a bad attitude afterwards.

c) REFERRAL SLIP REFERRAL SLIP REFERRAL SLIP. These teachers will simply write up a student for the slightest tap of a pencil on a desk. Most of the time, the teachers do not want to deal a student and leave their fate in the hands of a principle.

These are about all I can think of. You may have read these short descriptions and thought of a teacher you had, and maybe you have a style of discipline that your prefer over the other. But, in actuality, each one has their flaw, as I somewhat pointed out above. To me, a "perfect" model of discipline should be a combination of the 3. It sounds crazy, but hear me out on this.

1. First encounter. You want to address the problem privately, as to avoid embarrassment to the student and further class disruption. Get your point across and ensure this does not happen again. Go back to class and teach.
2. You thought you already handled it. Guess not. You're in the middle of a lesson, and frankly, you don't have time for another private meeting. This student does not seem to pay any mind to what you said to them outside. What do you do? Address it again, in public. One more screw up, and they're not going to like their next fate.
3. Office. You can't get to this student, you've tried just about anything you can think. A student like this needs to be out of the class until they can behave themselves, and the office will take care of that. Hand them a lovely slip of yellow and send them on your way. Get back to your lesson.

That is my ideal model of discipline. Usually, teachers just find a way that works for them and put their own twist on a technique. Just like a pro skateboarder or something.

Here's Your Sign

A sign of a good day in class for me is usually when one of my students ask me a question. This shows me that they have come into class with a mind to learn and are ready to focus. Other than questions, if they are not hitting on stuff constantly then that means a good day. Mr.Walters does not like extra drum noise when we are not playing, and a happy band teacher is a good band teacher.

Bad signs are just like they would be in any other classroom. If a student comes in with a bad attitude, bad sign. If a student forgets the proper materials, bad sign. Band is really no different than a regular classroom.

Monday Blues Cure

As I try to put the best smile I can on, my mind can't help but dread going back to teach after a long fun weekend. Walking in the classroom, I'm anticipating a bad day. The drum line had came in last in the competition over the weekend; not to mention having returned home late that day. As my percussionists come in, they seem to be in a lot better mood than I am. They greet me like they would with one of their close friends. It is shocking to me, as to almost change my entire outlook on the day. But, it is still Monday, so it will take more than some friendly greetings. Who knows? They may have put my Corvette on the school roof by now. When the bell rings, each student pulls up a chair near the area where we watch videos. Before I could even speak, they immediately ask to hear the judges tapes from the competition and watch the video from the competition. This shocks me, as when I normally do this with them, they groan and complain when I ask them to do this. I put in the video and the judges tapes; each student turns a listening ear and a pair of watchful eyes. They carefully note when a judge has called them out for a mistake. Not only for themselves, but their fellow percussionists as well. When it is done, we discuss as a section of what we can do differently and then apply it to practice. We go through specified warm ups, followed by necessary rudiments to improve playing, and finally perform the show music. Everyone is listening and helping each other out when needed. Seeing this, I realize just how much seeing students willing to work brightens my day. To strive to do better, and improve themselves; no matter what the costs.

This, would be the ideal classroom for me.